| The Singer pistol: Not to be had for a song or sewing machine |
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You can buy a circa 1940 Singer sewing machine for around $100. But a rare Singer pistol will cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Singer went into the military handgun business briefly in early World War II. The U.S. government used them as a test to see how well a manufacturing company that never made a gun could produce them to help the war effort.
In April 1940 Singer was given an “educational order” to make 500 Colt Model 1911A1 semi-automatic .45 caliber pistols. After fulfilling the order, however, either company management or the government decided Singer could best help the cause by making bomb sights and other weapon-related parts. The 500 handguns were distributed throughout the military. The equipment to make them was transferred to the Remington-Rand and Ithaca manufacturing plants.
The Colt Model 1911A1 was made by five companies during the war but those made by Singer have become the most coveted by collectors. Rarity and scarcity is behind it all. When they come up for sale at major gun auctions they go for a fortune. In September 2008 Rock Island Auctions in Moline, Ill., sold the second example Singer made for $74,750. As a comparison, the same Model 1911A1 made by Renington-Rand or Ithaca is valued at $1,000 or so. It’s all in the name. For Singer guns, however, there is no name. They are marked simply, “S. Mfg. Co., Elizabeth, N.J. U.S.A.” on the side of the gun. All serial numbers fall into a designated range of S800001 to S800500.
Two more Singers were available at Rock Island’s recent April 30-May 2 auction. Serial number S800499, the next to last one made, sold for $28,750. An after-market beveled cut near the injection port hurt the value a bit. The other, S800326, went for $34,500. If reading this has got you hankerin’ to add a Singer to your collection, Rock Island will offer serial number S800221 in its auction Sept. 10-12.
Singer also made, as a subcontractor to Underwood, receivers for the M1 carbine. A Singer factory in Clydebank, Scotland, made bayonets for the British Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. I rifle.
Rock Island’s spring auction took in $7.6 million. Among the highlights: Volcanic pistol, $74,750, sterling silver Colt deringer, $69,000; Colt Model 1900 semi-auto pistol, $43,125; Model 1878 Colt engraved sheriff model, $46,000; Winchester Model 1873 with carved ivory stock, $40,250; cased Nazi Luftwaffe survival drilling, $20,700; and a gold inlaid O/U shotgun by Luciano Bosis, $43,125.
Cowan’s in Cincinnati had its spring auction April 28-29. A French & Indian War engraved New York map horn bearing the name Henry Bowes sold for $23,000. Uniform and medals worn by Rough Rider Private George H. Sharland, of New Mexico, went for $13,800. A first model Henry rifle brought $22,425. Cowan’s did about $1.3 million with 1,265 lots and 859 bidders. Three hundred registered online bidders made up 42 percent of the sales.
Gun control still under control
As mentioned previously in this column, despite dire predictions more gun control under the current administration hasn’t yet materialized, resulting in declining prices on some guns (assault-style rifles) and once-scarce ammunition now plentiful (unless you’re looking for .380).
In no other area of collecting does politics influence market values. Unlike teddy bears, baseball cards, fine art, clocks and other things people collect, the price of guns can fluctuate dramatically as a result of rumors of new gun control laws or a politician’s comment. When Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon visited the White House on May 19 he asked the U.S. to reinstate the expired assault weapons ban because he believes they are the cause of his country’s drug wars problem.
Politico newspaper reported on May 20 that Obama “threw cold water on the idea of pushing for the ban during a visit to Mexico last year.” The paper quoted the President: “I continue to believe that we can respect and honor the Second Amendment rights in our Constitution, the rights of sportsmen and hunters and homeowners who want to keep their families safe to lawfully bear arms …”
But Sarah Palin reminded an audience of 9,000 NRA members not to put their guard down. “Don’t doubt for a minute that if they thought they could get away with it they would ban guns and ban ammunition and gut the Second Amendment.” She spoke at the NRA’s national convention May 14-17 in Charlotte, N.C.
Tea for two
Gun collectors have a new friend with the growing Tea Party movement. While its primary goal may be to shake-up the status quo in Washington, Tea Partyers have been found to own more guns. A New York Times/CBS News poll taken in early April revealed that a Republican who declared himself a Tea Party member was more likely to have more guns than other Republicans and Democrats. Given the Tea Party’s goal to vote out politicians who don’t share their views, the winners of the November House and Senate elections likely may be more pro-gun than their predecessors.
The pistol-packin’ Tea Party has not gone unnoticed by the NRA. In its “Morning Edition” program on May 17, National Public Radio said the NRA “has found a new ally in the Tea Party movement.”
“The NRA views every issue through the prism of the Second Amendment, while the Tea Party groups offer a broader variety of complaints about big government,” said the NPR report. “But there is a lot of overlap as well.” The potent alliance formed by this overlap may benefit pro-gun politicians. The survey found the typical Tea Party supporter is well-educated, more affluent and over age 45.
Upcoming events of note
• Cowan’s, Ohio – American History auction, June 10-11, and World at War auction June 22.
• Rock Island, Ill. – Regional gun auction June 26-27, Premiere auction Sept. 10-12. |
| 6/9/2010 |
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